Video: Why Even Small Franchises, Like The Muppets, Matter

By Clip Syndicate

When Disney bought the rights to the Muppets in 2004, it was a beloved brand that had fallen on hard times. The last Muppet movie had hit theater in 1999. Muppets From Space grossed just $22 million at the global box office, not even covering its $24 million budget. Founder Jim Henson had passed away in 1990 and it just seemed like the once-popular characters' moment had passed. The Muppets has become the new kind of mid-budget movie that Disney wants to make. The new movie only cost a reported $50 million to make. "Most Wanted" can make a profit with a $150 million box office take and more importantly, it keeps the Muppets in the public eye and keeps Muppets merchandise moving at Disney and Target stores. With the film being a sequel, marketing is easier. And the international setting of the new movie is likely no coincidence. By moving the gang to foreign locations, Disney has a better chance of drawing an international audience.